The United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that, as of October 3, 2017, it has resumed premium processing for all H-1B petitions, including H-1B extensions and requests for an H-1B change of employer. USCIS’ premium processing program adjudicates petitions within 15 calendar days for a fee of $1,225.

Premium processing had been suspended on most H-1B petitions since early April 2017, although in subsequent months USCIS gradually resumed premium processing, initially for certain cap-exempt and physician H-1B filings and then for H-1B petitions subject to the annual cap. With the announcement this week, all H-1B filings may now be filed under premium processing.

Employers who wish to take advantage, either to convert pending H-1B petitions to premium processing or to submit new petitions, should contact their Pryor Cashman immigration attorney.